Mark Stoops says Kentucky didn't live up to expectations in brutal loss to Mississippi State
Coming off a bye week, the Kentucky Wildcats expected to go into Starkville and give the Mississippi State Bulldogs a competitive game.
That’s not what happened, though, as coach Mark Stoops’s squad was dominated in every aspect of the game during a 45-7 loss.
After the game, Stoops was disappointed, saying the Wildcats didn’t play up to their expectations.
Here’s what Stoops said after the lopsided defeat in Starkville:
On being thoroughly outclassed by the Bulldogs:
Stoops: Not very good effort. “Definitely not acceptable. Didn’t play winning football. Didn’t coach good enough."
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 21, 2017
They whooped us. We all have to look in the mirror and look at all aspects of our situation, Stoops said.
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 21, 2017
Generally when you’re that much more physical with your opponent, you’re going to lose the game, Stoops said.
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 21, 2017
On a third-down play in the first half:
Game got away from us with three minutes to go in first half, Stoops said. “It was imperative we got a first down at that point in time."
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 21, 2017
We went for a home run and the game flipped right there on that third-and-1, Stoops said.
— Jen Smith (@jenheraldleader) October 21, 2017
Stoops says if he had it to do all over again he would have ran the ball on 3rd and 1 before the half.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) October 21, 2017
On doing better moving forward:
https://twitter.com/brock_howard/status/921880001204641792
On a disappointing effort after a bye week:
Stoops: "Us coming off this bye, we didn't play to our standards"
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) October 21, 2017
Kentucky hosts the Tennessee Volunteers next weekend in Lexington. Against a struggling Vols squad, the Wildcats will try to clinch bowl eligibility with a sixth victory.
